This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2025 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by <a href="https://www.factset.com/" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_factset">Factset</a>. Powered and implemented by <a href="https://www.factset.com/solutions/business-needs/digital-solutions" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_factset_digital_solutions">FactSet Digital Solutions</a>. <a href="https://www.factset.com/privacy" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_factset_privacy">Legal Statement</a>. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by <a href="https://lipperalpha.refinitiv.com/" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_refinitive_info">Refinitiv Lipper</a>. <br>Hegseth hearing, Israel ceasefire, CA wildfires<br><strong>FIRST ON FOX</strong>: Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, officially endorsed Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense on Tuesday night, despite expressing some initial uncertainty following their first meeting. <br>"After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong Secretary of Defense," Ernst told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.<br><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/waste-less-save-more-doge-caucus-member-rolls-out-expansive-bill-package-ahead-trump-inauguration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'WASTE LESS, SAVE MORE': DOGE CAUCUS MEMBER ROLLS OUT EXPANSIVE BILL PACKAGE AHEAD OF TRUMP INAUGURATION</strong></a><br><span>Ernst officially announced her support of Hegseth on Tuesday. </span> <span>(Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)</span><br>"Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense. As I serve on the Armed Services Committee, I will work with Pete to create the most lethal fighting force and hold him to his commitments of auditing the Pentagon, ensuring opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards, and selecting a senior official to address and prevent sexual assault in the ranks."<br>President-elect Trump's pick to lead the Department of Defense (DOD) went before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday morning, where he faced questions from both Democratic and Republican members. <br><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/schumer-gathers-key-committee-dems-talk-looming-hegseth-confirmation-hearing"><strong>SCHUMER GATHERS KEY COMMITTEE DEMS TO TALK LOOMING HEGSETH CONFIRMATION HEARING</strong></a><br><span>WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Hegseth, an Army veteran and the former host of "FOX & Friends Weekend" on FOX News will be the first of the incoming Trump administration’s nominees to face questions from Senators.</span> <span>( (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images))</span><br>In order to be confirmed, its expected Hegseth will need nearly every Republican to support him, with room to lose only two of their votes. This is assuming that no Democratic senators choose to back him, in which case, he would have more flexibility with Republicans. <br>During the hearing, Ernst pressed Trump's DOD choice on women in combat, sexual assault in the military and auditing the department. <br>Ernst, a survivor of sexual assault herself, said, "A priority of mine has been combating sexual assault in the military and making sure that all of our service members are treated with dignity and respect. This has been so important. Senator Gillibrand and I have worked on this, and we were able to get changes made to the uniform code of military justice to make sure that we have improvements, and on how we address the tragic and life altering, issues of rape, sexual assault. It will demand time and attention from the Pentagon under your watch, if you are confirmed."<br><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/schumer-gathers-key-committee-dems-talk-looming-hegseth-confirmation-hearing"><strong>MEET LEADER JOHN THUNE'S ALL-STAR CABINET AS REPUBLICANS TAKE OVER SENATE MAJORITY</strong></a><br><span>WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) (L) introduces U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. </span> <span>(Getty Images)</span><br>"So, as secretary of Defense, will you appoint a senior level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response?" she asked Hegseth. <br>Trump's selection told the senator that he would agree to do so. <br>Ernst's support was a welcome development for Hegseth because, in order to be confirmed, its expected he will need nearly every Republican to support him, with room to lose only two of their votes. This is assuming that no Democratic senators choose to back him, in which case, he would have more flexibility with Republicans. <br><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/apps-products?pid=AppArticleLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP</strong></a><br>Hegseth took numerous pointed questions from Democrats, along with several criticisms. The senators prodded him over allegations regarding alcohol consumption, sexual assault and financial mismanagement. <br>He has denied each of the allegations. However, Democratic senators emerged from the hearing unconvinced by Hegseth. <br>Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner. <br>Follow Julia's reporting on X at <a href="https://twitter.com/juliaajohnson_?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">@JuliaaJohnson_</a> and send tips to <a href="mailto:Julia.Johnson@fox.com" rel="nofollow">Julia.Johnson@fox.com</a>.<br>Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.<br>By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a> and <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a>, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.<br>Subscribed<br> You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! <br> This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2025 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by <a href="https://www.factset.com/" data-omtr-intcmp="footer_factset">Factset</a>. Powered and implemented by <a href="https://www.factset.com/solutions/business-needs/digital-solutions" data-omtr-intcmp="footer_factset_digital_solutions">FactSet Digital Solutions</a>. <a href="https://www.factset.com/privacy" data-omtr-intcmp="footer_factset_privacy">Legal Statement</a>. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by <a href="https://lipperalpha.refinitiv.com/" data-omtr-intcmp="footer_refinitive_info">Refinitiv Lipper</a>. <br><br><a href="https://news.google.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?oc=5">source</a>
